Schools across Montgomery County are gearing up for the 2017 solar eclipse on August 21. Educational opportunities will be available for students at all ages. The school division will provide safe solar eclipse glasses with an ISO 12312-2, which is the international safety standard for eclipse-viewing glasses.

Some classes, especially those with younger children, may watch the eclipse through the NASA live feed. Students will experience the eclipse by watching the lessening of light through classroom windows and will view the eclipse itself through the live feed.

All MCPS schools will dismiss at regular time. Students at the secondary level will receive instruction not to look directly at the sun with their naked eye and will be provided with the proper glasses to view the eclipse safely. Elementary schools will dismiss at the end of the eclipse when the sun will be in almost full view again.

Parents will have the opportunity to opt their child out of any live-viewing activity that may take place at their child’s school. Students who are opted out will participate in other eclipse-related activities.